The purpose of this article is to inform you of the issue
of corrective rape on lesbians in South Africa. It seems
that the men are raping these women in hopes to cure them
of their sexual orientation. The women in towns like
Johannesburg and Cape Town are reporting massive accounts
of these brutal attacks. However they seem to fall on
death ears. According to Action Aid, of every 25 reports,
24 men walk free. These numbers are not acceptable. Africa
has turned into the rape capital of the world with a
quarter of all women being raped by the age of 16.
No woman regardless of sexual orientation should fall
victim to these grotesque and inhumane acts of hate. They
aren't the only ones suffering; the children are suffering
as well. Nonhlanhla Zwane reported that her 13 year old
twin daughters were gang raped because her sexual
preference. She also stated that the rapist told her
daughters "we just wanted to show you that you don't have
to be like your mother." One of the twins committed
suicide shortly thereafter.
Another account was on Sizakele Sigasa who was a lesbian
activist and outreach worker with the Positive Women's
Network who was found dead with her friend. Her hands were
tied behind her back with her pants and her ankles tied
together by her shoelaces with three bullets to the head
and to the collarbone.
Simangele Nhlapho along with her two year old daughter were
raped and murdered, her daughters legs were broken as well.
Madoe Mafubedu who was 16 at the time was raped and stabbed
repeatedly until she died.
These are just some of the accounts of this behavior and it
has turned into a major epidemic. I truly believe that
whether you agree to gay rights or not, there should be
something in your heart that tells you that this is not
right. There should be something within you that should
make you want to reach out to these women.
One such group has decided to do just that. During the
month of June, The Uzima Collective Group will be launching
the project "Because of Who I Am" which focuses on bringing
awareness of these brutal attacks against South African
lesbians to the forefront. According to the founder, "This
is our outreach...this is our mission, and we invite
you...gay or straight to unite with us against this
epidemic. This could be you, your daughter or a loved one."
----------------------------------------------------
Maya Wilson, The Uzima Collective Group. To learn more
about ending corrective rape against the lesbians of South
Africa or to provide your support, please visit
http://www.uzimacollective.ning.com . You may contact me
directly at m.wilson@uzimacollective.org.
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